Art imitates life once again at Festo. Their eyes glow an erie blue though the bird’s movement through the water is remarkably natural. Festo has produced a robotic penguin with 3D sonar navigation.

The robot is a study in the efficiency of natural design. As a hydrodynamic volume penguin bodies produce 20 to 30% less resistance than bodies developed by traditional engineering methods. Festo models show Adélie penguins as so efficient, if they operated on gasoline, they would be able to travel ~1500 kilometers through bitter Antarctic waters on a liter of fuel.

The robotic penguins are designed as autonomous underwater vehicles that navigate independently. In groups their sophisticated 3D sonar allows them to avoid collisions, interact and potentially work collaboratively.

Check out the video here.

Alles auf Deutch.

(See also: Festo: AquaPenguin)
(See also: Festo: AquaPenguin brochure)
(See also: Wikipedia: Adélie Penguin)